I've always imagined a carpenter's bench to be full of half-finished projects, things that need to be polished or completed.

This is mine.

I have so many stories that I start and then can't decide where to take them or don't have the time to work on them with all my other projects, and I'm hoping that this will help me to remember that they exist when I have a chance to work on them without making me feel like I'm setting them up for abandonment.

Pirates.

Warning: violence, implicit gore

xx

The passengers were clamoring from below the deck, panicked by the shot that had shattered the beautiful lady carved into the bow, and the crewmen were desperately preparing the cannons to return fire on the approaching pirates. At the wheel, Gilbert could see his father, directing the men. Then another shot shattered the main mast, sending it crashing to the deck in a rain of splinters.

"Vater!" Gilbert cried out, though he could tell the heavy beam had not fallen towards his father. Suddenly, in the wake of disaster, his wish for adventure seemed foolish. People could die – would die; he amended, gagging at the sight of the cheerful, scarred sailor who'd shared exaggerated stories of his own adventures, skewered by a splinter of wood as thick as Gilbert's fist.

The passengers were being led up now, hurried along the deck to the longboats, and one of his father's men tried to herd Gilbert along with them. He didn't budge, ducking beneath the man's arm and running towards his father. Vater wouldn't leave his ship, and Gilbert wouldn't leave Vater.

The dark sails of the pirates' ship were closer now, the eerie grin of the skull on its banner clearly visible. Gilbert shivered, and continued making his way across the deck, more set on reaching his father than before.

"G-Gil?" The quiet call was almost lost in the cacophony of panicked screams and shouts, but Gilbert heard it, casting his eyes in the direction he thought it came from. When he didn't see anyone, he was about to move on – it had probably been nothing – only to hear it again. "Gil!"

This time he saw the tiny figure peeking out of the shadows behind a couple of barrels lashed to the deck, and recognized it as one of the young twins he'd befriended. Weaving around the crew, it was only a moment before Gilbert was close enough to see violet eyes glittering with tears, and the small, wiggling animal held close in a tight embrace. "Matt?! What the hell are you doing?"

Matthew was supposed to be safe with Alfred and their father, with the rest of the passengers being loaded into the boats. Not here – where no one would even know he was missing until he was already dead.

"B-Bear- Bear r-ran away. . ." Matthew managed to get the words out through his tears as he held out the tiny white puppy for Gilbert to see. "I-I'm sc-scared, Gil."

Gilbert was torn, looking at the mess of shattered wood and rushing crewmen behind him that Matthew would have to navigate to reach the boats and then turning his head forward, to where he could see his father at the helm, checking the ammunition on his belt. Then he made the mistake of looking down into Matthew's tear-bright eyes, shining violet in the light.

Ludwig – little baby Ludwig – was the same age as the six-year-old twins, and as Matthew's eyelids shuttered downward, cutting off the light, Gilbert saw the blue in his eyes, nearly the same brilliant shade that shone up at him every time Ludwig smiled, and knew he couldn't leave the boy to find his way safely back alone.

"Come on then, Matt," Gilbert reached down and plucked the puppy from Matthew's small arms, tapping it on the nose when it growled at him. He held it in one arm, nested in the crook of his elbow, and reached the other arm out, palm up, for Matthew to grab. "We'll get you and Bear here back to your family. Just stick close, alright?"

Matthew nodded, sniffling as he grabbed Gilbert's hand and pulled himself up. He was still shaking, but he looked up at Gilbert with a gaze the likes of which Gilbert had never seen directed at himself before. A look filled with awe and trust and respect, fear taking a back seat.

"You'll be okay," Gilbert promised, squeezing the small hand gently. "I'll protect you."

But they'd hardly begun to move when the boat shook, sending both boys to the deck. Bear nearly managed to escape, but Gilbert caught him before he got far. "No, you don't!" If Matthew had run away from his family to catch the little scoundrel, Gilbert certainly wasn't going to lose him.

And then he looked up.

The pirates had thrown grappling hooks, pulling the two ships together. Already, vicious-looking men wielding pistols and swords were making their way across the gap, moving so quickly – they were on the ship, cutting through the crewmen, almost before Gilbert blinked.

There was blood everywhere.

Gilbert's blood ran cold, he knew how pirates acted, what they were capable of. He'd spent most of his life collecting stories, begging his father and uncles for any tales they might have – the more bloody and vicious the better.

He could fight - he had a dagger at his belt, and he knew how to use it – but as much as he wanted to, little Matthew's hand was still locked in his, something he grew thankful for as he watched the fighting.

He'd always thought it would be an awesome adventure to face off against a pirate, but watching as the crew was murdered, as one pirate laughed when his blade found itself embedded in a man's throat... he couldn't help but wonder if he'd even last a minute.

A quiet whimper drew his attention; Matthew was so pale, tears in his terrified eyes. "Gil?"

"Looks like we're stayin' here, kiddo," Gilbert tried to laugh, but the sound stuck in his throat. Instead, he pushed himself up, pulling Matthew along with him as he ducked back behind the barrels.

Listening to the clamor of the fighting, Gilbert leaned against the barrel at his back and clutched Matthew and Bear close, trying not to think about how he should be with his father. Matthew's fingers were white where they clung to his sleeve, tears flowing silently down his cheeks.

At least he was the quiet twin – Gilbert stifled a hysterical laugh, imagining Alfred trying to throw himself at the pirates, refusing to stay hidden even though each man was at least four times bigger than the the feisty brat.

"Wan'Al," Matthew mumbled incoherently, pressing himself and Bear into Gilbert's chest as he sniffled and quivered, so small in Gilbert's arms.

Gilbert hushed him, gently rubbing Matthew's back like he did for Ludwig whenever he was scared. "S'gonna be alright," he whispered, nearly choking on the words as he hoped that they wouldn't prove to be a lie.

Plans for this one involve the pirate captain taking an interest in the kids and Gilbert doing everything he can to protect Mattie as they are stolen away and raised among the pirates as slaves/pets/toys until they're old enough to prove their worth as crew members. It would probably end up being Rus/Pru/Can with Russia as the pirate captain.

Naturally, Alfred would grow up and join the navy to hunt pirates so that he can avenge the death of his brother, and this would lead to him coming face to face with Mattie. Probably after he nearly kills Gil or some other pirate Mattie cares for.